The Best Markets

Kashgar Sunday Bazaar: The bazaar is now split in two and not quite what it was, but the livestock part of the market, southeast of town, is still well worth visiting. Bearded Uighur men in traditional blue and white garb sharpen their knives and trim their sheep, small boys wearing Inter Milan strip gorge themselves on Hami melons, Kyrgyz in dark fur hats pick up and drop dozens of lambs to test their weight and meatiness before settling deals with vigorous and protracted handshakes.

Panjiayuán Jiùhuò Shìchang (Beijing): A vast outdoor market held on weekends, Panjiayuán teems with what is very likely the world's best selection of things Chinese: row upon row of everything from reproduction Míng furniture to minority clothing to Máo memorabilia. Most of the antiques are fakes, although experts have made some surprising finds in the bedlam.

Kaifeng Night Market (Kaifeng): Visitors overnight in Kaifeng just so they can attend this famous and festive night market whose mainstay is the wide variety of delicious local snacks on offer, such as five-spice roasted bread, sesame soup, and spicy lamb kabob.

Khotan Sunday Bazaar: This is everything the Kashgar Market once was. Jewelers pore over gemstones, blacksmiths busy themselves shoeing horses and repairing farm tools, blanket makers beat cotton balls, rat-poison sellers proudly demonstrate the efficacy of their products -- the sights and smells are overwhelming. Don't miss the horse-riding enclosure towards the north side of the melée, where buyers test the roadworthiness of both beast and attached cart, with frequent spectacular tumbles.

Temple Street Night Market (Hong Kong): Prices here are outrageous compared to those at China's other markets, but the scene at this night market is very entertaining, especially the fortune-tellers and street-side performers singing Chinese opera.

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